In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the final bell sounded on a remarkable
life. Joe Frazier, who has died aged 67 following a brief fight with liver
cancer, will always be remembered as Muhammad Ali’s greatest opponent. But
Smokin’ Joe was much, much more than just that. His script was all of his
own doing.

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One of the greats: Joe Frazier was among heavyweight boxing's finest champions during its last great eraPhoto: PA

The announcement of his passing was made in a tribute statement from his family: “We, the family of the 1964 Olympic boxing heavyweight gold-medallist, former heavyweight boxing champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame member Smokin' Joe Frazier, regret to inform you of his passing.”

"He transitioned from this life as "One of God's Men," on the eve of Nov 7, 2011 at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We thank you for your prayers for our father and vast outpouring of love and support.

"Respectfully, we request time to grieve privately as a family. Our father's home going celebration will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding."

Frazier had been diagnosed with liver cancer just over a month ago. There was an immediate tribute from Ali, who said: "The world has lost a great champion. I will always have respect and admiration for him. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."

Frazier will remain one of sporting icons of the last century, due, in part, to his ring wars with Ali. The pair - Frazier-Ali - have been lionised due to their trilogy of legendary duels between 1971 and 1975, engraved in the annals of boxing history.

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Frazier won the first, known as the ‘Fight of the Century’, at Madison Square Garden. It was said that half the world was watching the live broadcast. In his corner, he had the legendary trainer Eddie Futch, considered one of the greatest tacticians, who could sort his boxers’ strengths from his opponents’ weaknesses.

The contest brought together the two alpha males of the division: the exiled ex-champion, narcissus Ali and tireless, rumbustious Frazier.

Both had unbeaten records, 31 and 26 fights respectively. It was a time when closed-circuit television was waking up to popular broadcasts.

The fight was special, the anticipation fever pitch. Ali had his moments with the jab and combinations, but Frazier landed fearsome hooks from the mid-range.

Frazier fought like a man exacting revenge on a foe who had insinuated in the build-up that the Philadelphian was the white man’s favourite. Frazier knocked Ali down for the first time in his career. Frazier won on points.

Ali took the last two meetings, the final act a paean to brutal artistry in Manila with both men near exhaustion, with Ali even admitting he felt ‘near death’ on the conclusion of the fight. It truly was a thriller.

In one of the greatest toe-to-toe battles in boxing history, Futch pulled Frazier out before the bell for the last round. Ali’s Doctor, Ferdie Pacheco said Ali’s “entire body was covered with welts and injuries and there were large bruises on both hips – contusions where Frazier had hit both hip joints. He later said that this fight was the closest thing to death he had ever experienced.”

Ahead of the second rubber, in 1974, the pair almost came to blows on ABC, during a chaotic broadcast. Ali had his way in the fight, subduing Frazier to earn a unanimous points decision.

Smokin’ Joe Frazier, 5ft 11ins tall, weighed 203.5lbs at his lightest, 217.5 at his heaviest, small by modern standards. He had 37 professional bouts, with 32 victories, four losses, and one draw.

He fought in 12 world championship bouts, the first of those in 1968, an 11th round TKO win over Buster Mathis. His final championship contest was his retirement loss to Ali in 1975.

He held the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles. What marked Frazier out from the more cautious fighters of his generation was the way he marched fearlessly forward in every contest, with a high-pressure, relentless style, bobbing and weaving into range against his opponents, to unleash fearsome hooks.

His fighting spirit was exceptional. He was the seventh of 13 children of a farm worker from South Carolina. Aged nine, he began filling sandbags, and by 12, he had moved across the cotton belt to Philadelphia, and at the age of 20, stepped in for the injured Mathis to represent the United States at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964.

He returned home with the gold medal. He was backed by a consortium of white businessmen in his early career. In March 1968, his victory over Mathis saw Frazier recognised as the world champion when Ali was stripped as champion for refusing the Vietnam War draft.

Other boxing associations ranked Jimmy Ellis as champion, but in 1970, Frazier wiped Ellis out in four coruscating rounds. Frazier seemed invincible, until the return of Ali. Their styles and personalities, rivalry and enmity, turned them into global stars at a time when the world heavyweight title was considered the richest prize in sport.

The three meetings with Ali engraved their names indelibly together, and into the annals of the sports history in a golden era for the glamour division.

Having beaten Ali in New York, Frazier ran into 3-1 outsider George Foreman, in Kingston, Jamaica. Foreman, who succeeded Frazier as Olympic champion, put him down six times before referee Arthur Mercante waved the fight over. Frazier looked like the shell of the fighter who had smoked through previous opponents.

In their 1976 rematch, Foreman won by a KO in round five. By then, the 1975 bout in Manila had taken a great deal out of Frazier’s imperviousness to punches.

Frazier took on all-comers in a golden era for the heavyweights. Besides Ali and Foreman, notable opponents included Jerry Quarry, Joe Bugner, Oscar Bonavena and George Chuvalo.

On retirement, Frazier started a new career as an entertainer, but eventually returned to his roots in Philadephia, training fighters in a large gym he owned.

Here, the religious man found his niche, helping young men from the wrong side of the tracks. He was invested into the Hall of Fame, and he will stay there. Legend. Pure and simple.